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Oregon Department of Fish & WildlifeJTMD Response

Final meeting of the JTMD Task ForceOctober 29, 2014

Caren Braby

Marine Resources Program Manager

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Japan TsunamiMarch 11, 2011

– Oregon mourned with the world at the tragedy unfolding in Japan

– Brookings, Coos Bay, Depoe Bay Harbors were damaged from tsunami wave

– Oregon’s coastal residents empathized with living with the threat of tsunami

– No one fully anticipated the problems that were unleashed that day

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Misawa DockJune 5, 2012

– Debris arrived earlier and larger than expected– Invasive species prominent (not expected)– Landed in an accessible, populated location

Agate Beach, Yaquina Head6 Jun 2012

60 ft X 17 ft floating dock: Grounded dock was a popular tourist attraction with over 90,000 visitors between June and July, 2012

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Coordinated Response to Dock

• Oregon State University – John Chapman, Gayle Hansen, Jessica Miller

& others

• Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife– Steve Rumrill, Rick Boatner, Caren Braby &

MRP team

• Oregon Parks & Recreation Department– Chris Havel, John Allen, Ryan Parker & OPRD

team

• Oregon Invasive Species Council & Oregon Sea Grant– Rick Boatner, Glenn Dolphin, Sam Chan,

Steve Brandt

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Taxonomic Identification

About 120 species of non-native marine organisms were attached to the floating dock

Scientists from Oregon State University collected and identified the non-native marine organisms

Dr. John ChapmanDr. Jessica Miller

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Scraping of Dock

June 7, 2012

Scraped Dock to Remove Marine Organisms

4,260 lbs13 Staff 3 days

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Burial of Organisms

OPRD transported bags of marine organisms by truck to high elevation on beach (above high-tide line)

OPRD Staff worked with a contractor to excavate a 10-12 ft deep hole and bury the marine organisms in sand

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Sterilization of Dock

Propane torches were used to kill marine organisms on surface and in cracks and crevices

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Dock Removal

Due to high NIS risk ODFW recommended removal rather than re-use in bay/marina

• NIS on dock bottom scoured by sand & crushed

• During demolition, more invasive organisms discovered inside bumper

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End of story…

The rest of the story!

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Planning for More

Risks from Large JTMD:1. Navigational hazards2. Hazardous materials3. Non-native species4. Public safety liability

• Japan government estimated 506 vessels (various sizes) were washed out to sea by the tsunami

• ODFW helped develop criteria for decisions regarding large floating objects from the Tohoku Japan Tsunami, hosting marine organisms

Panga Fleet

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“Panga” vessels(probable JTMD)

Gleneden BeachFebruary 5, 2013

Megabalanus rosa

Fueling procedure sticker

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Wooden Beams & Timbers(probable JTMD)

Ponsler BeachMarch 21, 2013

OceansideMarch 25, 2013

Wood debris is Terrestrial Origin Debris (TOD), colonized at sea by cosmopolitan, open-ocean marine organisms. We now think these items do not pose a threat from non-native species.

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Pelagic gooseneck barnacle (Lepas anatifera) and mussels (Mytilus spp.), common on floating logs

Damage to submerged wood caused by shipworms (burrowing bivalves)

and gribbles (isopods)

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June2014

Jan2013

June 2013

June2012

Jan 2014

DockFishing Floats

Panga vessels

Waves of JTMD with non-native species

Wood

Tracked on “Biofouling Register” (distinct from official JTMD)

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Summary: ODFW Role

• Non-native species mitigation– 1st priority: remove threat on open coast– 2nd priority: facilitate/conduct scientific

sampling of probable JTMD biota

• Accomplishments– Response to the dock, buoys, vessels, wood– Scientific coordination (sampling, workshops)– Agency coordination on response, outreach– Planning for at-sea interception of large debris

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Summary: Financial Cost of Response

• Largely, fiscal impacts were absorbed by state and federal agency budgets

• Costs were primarily in staff time, for ODFW

• Academic researchers have had success securing federal funding to study the samples collected

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Next Steps

• Task Force concludes• ODFW staff will continue to monitor and

coordinate with academics and agencies• Long-term studies will reveal if any of the

non-native species have taken hold on Oregon shores

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Questions?